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In the steps of Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania, the last 3 countries have joined the world’s largest passport -free travel zone, Cyprus will rise to the Schengen area at the beginning of 2026, such as confirmed by his president.
Although he has been a member of the European Union since 2004 and has hired the euro as an official currency, the Eastern Mediterranean Nation is already waiting for the sidelines two decades are admitted to the boundless territory.
It is a long time ago, but the status quo will finally change in the coming months, because negotiations have been set to conclude – and if you think that this has nothing to do with you as a traveler, or even a digital nomade, think again:
The access to the Schengen of Cyprus has consequences for alland for the majority of tourists who are planning to stay a little longer in Europe, Most are not positive:
Syphus? Cyprus? Cypress trees?
To start with, where is Cyprus even? When we see that most Americans have not even heard of the European nation, we thought we would give you a short introduction before we were to get into the real juicy things:
As mentioned earlier, Cyprus is an island country in the East Middellandse Sea, just south of Turkey, and next to Greece, the only other sovereign state in the world where Greek is an official language, although the story is more, yes, Cypriots are largely ethnic GreeksAnd speak Greek.
Cyprus is best known for its well-developed resort zones, in particular Ayia Napa and Protaras, where virgin white-sands turquoise meet, and old heritage:
The country itself littered with stone -built villages frozen in time, such as the picturesque Lefkara, lush central hills at home of traditional family businesses, and Hellenic monuments in abundance, from the ruins of Kourion, a former Greek city state, to the UNESCO-GENTED Graves of the Kings.
Although it is not the average American destination in the summer, it is one of the hottest countries in the Mediterranean, with temperatures that rise above 90 degrees on the coast, as well as one of the most affordable:
A A -week stay In a private room in the center of Larnaca, a popular coastal city on the south coast, Will put you back to $ 215.
In the event that you wonder what the Cypriot capital is, is that Nicosia for you, and do you remember that when we told you earlier that there was ‘more’ the story?
Northern Cyprus for Dummies
Well, the thing is, Nicosia is only partially controlled by the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus, or more specifically, the southern districts.
The northern part of the city, as well as the entire northern third part of Cyprus, which deposits in the Mediterranean Sea, is occupied by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a self-proclaimed state after a Turkish invasion in the 1970s.
Walk in the center of Nicosia, You will notice that, in addition to the beautiful ocher -colored buildings and orthodox churches, a heavily militarized Buffer zone of the United Nations separates both sides. You Can only cross from north to south by showing a passport at official checkpoints.
One is in fact located in the most important pedestrian street of Nicosia, Ledra, which starts in the Greek half of the city and ends in the Turkish -speaking north.
Like the old world charm of Cyprus, or even only the Crazy geopolitics of all this Have you aroused interest, you can read more in -depth about this enormously undervalued country.
What do we know about the accession of Cyprus so far?
Now that you have received a quick overview, let’s continue with what is Real Relevant: Cyprus will soon be in Schengen.
In the words of President Nikos Christodoulides himself, who gave a speech on 12 May, will have his country ‘All the required basis’ Wrapping towards the end of the year, making Swift access to Schengen possible at the beginning of 2026.
We know that politicians like to promise and then do not deliver, and the Schengen ambitions of Cyprus have now been kicked on the road for 21 years, but Christodoulides was assertively by saying that this is not just a wish, It is a national obligation. ‘
For both Cypriots and tourists, this would mean easier journeys between Cyprus and mainland Europe, and much less border coils:
Currently, all passengers of AirSide or Cruise Ship who are subject to passport control in Cyprus countries, even if it comes from colleague -countries, and Schengen membership would immediately abolish the hard border.
So far, so good, but what about the disadvantages we mentioned in the beginning?
How exactly is this bad news for travelers?
As most travelers will know in the long term and digital nomads at the moment, we shrink at the least indication that another European country will add to Schengen for one reason, and only one reason:
It means automatically Less time allowed to stay on the old continent. We will explain it.
The way Schengen works, tourists can only be present in the border-free zone for 90 days from a period of 180 days, and this includes Americans, unless of course they have a valid visa in a Schengen country.
The problem is that this once selective group now includes 29 out of 44 European countries, which means in More than 65% of the continentSchengen acquisition Apply.
Yes, travel without borders is great, until you realize that you only have 10 days left to stay in Italy after 80 days of traveling over Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland. Do you see what we get?
While most countries allow visitors to stay 90 days, the 90-day rule of Schengen, limits the amount of time seriously You don’t get in one, but No fewer than 29 destinations.
You don’t get 90 days in France, then 90 days in Italy: you all include them for three months. Period. In addition, if you have spent a continuous 90 days in the Schengen territories, you have to leave immediately and you cannot return for three months.
Schengen’s ERA Reset
For years, Cyprus is used by many long-term travelers and external employees who are looking for ingenious ways to extend their European adventure as a ‘reset’ country:
In other words, as soon as they have used up their 90 days on mainland Europe, they could just fly to this garden of Eden in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea for a beach time, and more Cultural expeditions, awaiting again on the continent.
From 2026, This will no longer be possibleAt least not in Cyprus.
Already ‘exhausted’ of your 90-day reimbursement stading between Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, or a group of Schengen countries that you can think of? Sorry, you can’t fly to Cyprus – not for another three months.
Of course it is unlikely that the Schengen recording of Cyprus directly influences holidaymakers in the short term, at least not insofar as the duration of stay concerns (but we would advise you to read carefully if you belong in this category).
Americans must apply for a permit to visit Cyprus
Just like any other Land van Schengen, Cyprus will also impose an ETIAS requirement on all current visa-free visitors.
This is relevant for travelers in the long and short term and digital nomads: from the end of 2026 you will no longer be eligible to travel visa-free to Cyprus as an American and any other Schengen country, unless you have a valid ETIAS.
An ETIAS is an electronic travel authorization issued to burgers of Visa-Waiver countries, and It essentially functions as an online visa:
You must submit a request by filling in an online form and paying a € 7 or around $ 8 allowance, depending on the exchange rate at that time.
An ETIAS is valid for a maximum of three years, or it may expire if your passport is over for fewer years, and it allows you to travel as often as you want to the Schengen area during the validity period, provided that the 90/180 rule continues to be respected.
Without an ETIAS you will not be able to board most Europe-related flights, unless it is a country that is neither in the EU, nor in the Schengen area (although the United Kingdom has its own travel authorization).
What about Northern Cyprus?
When Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, a special provision was hit to tackle the complex geopolitical status of the island.
According to the EU Act, all Van Cyprus is a technical part of the European Union, even the Turkish-occupied North, although the EU legislation is suspended there, because the Republic of Cyprus does not effectively control.
When it comes to Schengen, We suspect that will be a similar policy implementTed: a border will continue to separate the south from the North, and although all passport controls between the south and other EU member states will be phased out, a border in the north will remain in place.
Moreover, it is important to note that the Republic of Cyprus foreign citizens does not usually allow the southern districts to enter when they first land in the north, via the Turkish-controlled Ercan Airport.
You can Cross free from south to north and back when You first touched one of the airports or ports rated by Cyprus, namely Larnaka International and Pafos International Airports Or the gates in Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos.
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This article originally appeared on Traveloffpath.com
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